FY 2018 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program

Johnson County is the most populous county in the state of Kansas with an estimated 2015 population of 580,159. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Criminalistics Laboratory (JCSOCL) provides services at no cost to all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies within the county.

The Biology section consists of 9.5 forensic scientists. Currently, one forensic scientist is a grant funded position. All forensic scientists assigned to the biology section are capable of performing biology/DNA analyses. Requests for biology/DNA analysis have increased 42 percent over the course of three years, and has exceeded the laboratory’s output capacity for timely analyses.

The goal of the JCSOCL is to provide high-quality DNA analyses with a reduced turnaround time (less than or equal to 180 days). In order to obtain this goal, two objectives have been identified. Objective one is to retain one full-time grant funded position to work biology/DNA cases. Objective two is to hire and train one new forensic technician to assist with casework and other quality related functions.

Continual improvements have been made to the efficiency of the biology section including new technologies, automation, and additional personnel. It is critical that we at least maintain the level of staffing in the biology section. This funding will be used to retain the current grant funded forensic scientist position and add one new forensic technician. The amount of funding available to the JCSOCL will be enough to pay the salary and benefits for a 52-week period. It is estimated that the grant funded forensic scientist (after completion of training) will work approximately 32 cases/176 DNA items. It is also estimated that the impact of the forensic technician will lead to an overall increase in an additional 32 cases/176 DNA items for the section.

NCA/NCF